These allow residents to operate the system by answering audio and video calls from the external unit via the building's LAN, using their smartphones or tablets.

At One Regent in Water Street, situated in a riverside setting in the historic Castlefield district of Manchester, the scheme consists of a 26-storey apartment building with 301 apartments and six townhouses. Three bespoke stainless steel audio door panels - installed by Signal Electronic Systems and featuring a digital call facility, dedicated concierge button and integrated Simplekey proximity access control readers - provide direct calling to residents on their smartphones or tablets. Using Comelit's Multi-User Gateway, door panels transmit calls via SIP trunks over the landlord's broadband connection. A porter switchboard allows the concierge to take calls from all three entrances and contact any of the residents as required. The concierge can also handle calls from three audio help points located in the common areas of the building. A further 19 Simplekey readers are installed throughout for resident access, while a pair of RF Simplekey readers provide access to the residents' car park.

At Greengate - which comprises 497 luxurious apartments in two towers at a riverside location bordering Salford and Manchester - six panels similar to those at Water Street have been installed by Aerial Wired Systems (TV) Ltd, with the addition of two direct call buttons. This means that any entrance panel can call through to any apartment in either tower, without any confusion about the numbering system. Here again, the panels can call through to residents' devices using the Multi-User Gateway. A total of 26 Simplekey readers provide proximity access control and a remote RF reader is installed at the vehicle entrance.

The third development is Wilburn Basin, again located between Salford and Manchester around the historic River Irwell basin. Here there are 491 apartments in four blocks ranging from eight to 21 storeys. The installation, by Aerial Wired Systems (TV) Ltd, features Comelit's ViP Multi-User Gateway, which enables residents to respond to calls without the need for an internal unit - and four bespoke stainless steel audio digital external panels located at the entrances to the buildings.

"By working with Renaker on these three prestigious projects, we have been able to demonstrate our versatility as a manufacturer, as well as offer significant cost-savings," said Francesca Boeris, Comelit's Managing Director. "Installing our multi-user gateway at each site means users can receive audio and video calls from the external unit directly to their smartphone or tablet with the Comelit ViP app, without needing to install an internal unit."

Facilities include a gym, cinema, residents' lounge, meeting rooms, a hotel-style reception lobby and 24/7 concierge. Outside, residents can enjoy landscaped gardens and seating areas around the river basin.

About Comelit

For more than half a century Comelit has been a leading global manufacturer of video and audio door entry products. The company offers the most up-to-date systems in the industry and these continue to evolve as technology moves forward. Comelit designs and manufactures class-leading video door entry panels and monitors, IP and analogue high-definition surveillance solutions and domestic Home Automation systems.

Comelit products are sold in over 70 countries worldwide through an extensive technical and sales network. Their quality is guaranteed by cutting-edge technological research, ongoing optimisation of functional and application processes and purebred Italian design.